04-08-2025
Race car driver, 60, crashes and dies while doing 280MPH on famed Bonneville Salt Flats
A veteran race car driver died in an ultra-high-speed crash while attempting to set a new land speed record on the famous Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
Chris Raschke, 60, lost control of his Speed Demon III Streamliner while driving approximately 280mph during the annual SpeedWeek event on Sunday afternoon, officials said.
The horrific accident occurred at around 3:03pm as Raschke was attempting the record at about the 2.5-mile mark.
Medical professionals rushed to the scene and began treating Raschke for his injuries, but he did not survive.
No one else was injured in the accident.
The Bonneville Nationals Inc. confirmed Raschke's passing in a statement on the Facebook page of the Southern California Timing Association.
'The cause of the incident is currently under investigation,' the release stated.
Raschke was an experienced driver and had been a member of the Speed Demon Racing team for 13 years.
SpeedWeek is an annual racing event held at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah, where drivers attempt to set land speed records
He also served as director of sales and marketing at Automotive Racing Products, a company that manufactures bolts and threaded engine fasteners for NASCAR, CART, IRL, NHRA, and Formula One.
SpeedWeek is an annual racing event held at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Wendover, Utah, where drivers attempt to set land speed records.
The event began on Saturday and was set to conclude on Friday.
Raschke's team, Speed Demon 715, paid tribute to its late driver on social media following the tragic accident.
'At this time, we ask everyone to please respect Chris's family, friends, and the Speed Demon team. We are deeply devastated,' the statement read.
